PRETENDING TO LIVE~ {The Lestrange Daughter #2}

𝟏𝟗. Third

TRIGGER WARNING; Contains moderate gore and violence. He deserved it though.

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Valentine twisted the serpent ring on her finger as she paced the room.

"There's nothing you can do." Snape sighed, he was probably sick of watching her walking back and forth.

"I know!" She snapped at him and continued to pace. "This is just maddening."

"You are maddening."

"Something I learnt from example. Now, shut your face and let me fret."

It was the day of the third task. The four Champions would be sent into the maze to find the Tri-Wizard Cup. But it was more than that. The maze had been charmed and manipulated to do anything to stop the Champions. Only one could win and all could die.

Dumbledore was checking over every aspect of the task one last time. They couldn't discard the incident regarding Snape's and Karkaroff's Dark Marks. Not when that more than likely meant Voldemort's involvement. It just added another deadly, convoluted layer to the mess they were in.

"You achieve nothing by acting like the ceiling will fall in at any moment." Snape scoffed at her.

"False. It's annoying you greatly and I consider that an achievement."

Snape narrowed his eyes threatening as the office opened Dumbledore stepped inside.

"The third task is set." He said somberly, gaze distant. No

Valentine finally stopped pacing and looked at him.

"Any signs of Voldemort?"

"I've looked." Dumbledore shook his head slowly as he spoke. "Without even knowing what to look for, I looked. If he is somehow involved, I could not find it."

"Something is going to happen tonight. I can feel it." She told him earnestly. "We have to do something."

"There is nothing to be done but a problem we cannot even fully ascertain." Snape jeered at her.

"We can't just sit here!"

I know something is going to happen.

"We have no choice!"

It happens every year.

"Potter could die tonight!"

"When will you get it through your thick skull, Lestrange?" Snape looked as though he pitied her for a moment, a fleeting second. She could see a flicker of something in his black eyes that she couldn't quite make out, but it was there. "We can do nothing. You can do nothing."

"Someone is going to get hurt." She swallowed thickly, somewhat taken aback. "This happens every year."

"The events of tonight, however regrettable, cannot be avoided." Dumbledore spoke up, sounding no happier than either of them. He wandered to his desk, almost seeming lost, sitting down behind it.

Snape scoffed and turned away, but Valentine walked over to the desk.

Dumbledore had been searching for weeks now while she went about her life, always keeping Harry in her peripherals. He'd been bent over the pensive for hours a time looking for any clue or hint. She planted her hands on it and stared directly into the old wizard's eyes.

"I just wish we could stop this." She spoke so lowly that it was barely a whisper.

"I understand that." Dumbledore reached out and touched her hand gently, his gaze apologetic. "And although he may deny it, Professor Snape also understands. I know you've already had to sit back and watch Harry face danger after danger. But for each danger he's faced, he's always come back. He's strong. You know this even better than myself. When you are needed, you will know. But that day hasn't come yet."